The Love of a Stranger
Ob1MegOb1
Chapter 16
(Jasmine)
I sat in the living area after William walked away and just sat there still trying to forget the last few days. Forget my anger with Paul, the sadness with Elizabeth, and the fact that I had basically given my eternal soul to Erik this morning. Not that, that was a bad thing but I was really in no mood for getting involved with a new man.
I shook my head thinking that I kept telling myself this but I knew I found so much comfort and love for him. I tried to remember his touch and how calming it had been. How his voice was so warm and inviting and supportive yet weary about something else. I felt my way to the nearest couch and just collapsed on it my mind racing. Until for some reason something entered my mind, something I had not remembered in a long time.
It was when I was a young girl. I was sitting in a very quiet room waiting for my mom. I closed my eyes for some reason thinking this would help me remember where I was. The heavy steps, the grunt of men as they carried something heavy…the soft whispering of ballet shoes. "The Opera House," I muttered. There was another sound I remember hearing deep within the bowels of the Opera House. It was the soft yet commanding voice of an...organ?
And then there were several footsteps as two girls stopped outside the door. I turned and listened with all the intentness a young girl could muster. "I heard him again Meg," a soft delicate voice said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Who Christine?" Meg asked. I recognized the voice of Madame Giry's daughter.
"The angel of music silly who else?"
"Oh but Christine you know there's no such thing. Don't you?" It was then I heard the organ music stop, and the soft whisper of footsteps coming towards the room. I quickly pushed myself against the far wall and listened as the sound of something opening. I only listened in confusion wondering what could have opened had it not been the door. I could hear the soft footsteps right next to me and the sound of gentle breathing.
"Whose there?" I questioned softly. The breathing halted if but for a moment but no voice spoke back. "You don't need to be afraid, I won't tell them you're here," I muttered softly. I reached out my hand as a sign of friendship but I only heard the opening close along with whoever came through it.
(Erik)
I watched William walk out of the living area from the other room and sat there wondering if I should even bother getting up. She was mad, and I guess she deserved to be. I had accused her of something I wasn't even sure was true. I was assuming that because she had done it in the past she was doing it now and therefore caused a mess once again.
I sighed laying back on the couch and just trying to think about anything but the past few days. Of course that wasn't working because for the last week I had done nothing but protect this woman and her family. To think I actually failed made my heart feel all the more saddened and disappointed with my miserable self.
I remembered her eyes as she came to terms with the fact she had lost yet another person in her family. How she had let them down again, and lost their support once more. There was a soft knock on the door and I looked into the brown eyes of Rebecca. She stood there meekly holding a saucer and cup. "Would you like to have some tea sir?"
Her voice was small but held a certain strength to it. She actually reminded me of somebody I just didn't know who. "Of course," I said smiling and taking the cup from her. I looked at her, her hair trailing down her back so elegantly, and her brown eyes that like her sisters pulled you right in. It was then I remembered those eyes, only the ones I had looked into had been empty.
It had been years ago and I was sneaking into the once Carlotta's room and listening to Christine's young pristine voice when another had come out of nowhere. I looked to see a young girl crouching in the corner. She asked who was there and it was then I figured out she was blind. I backed away and headed back toward the mirror even though she sounded like she meant no harm. At that point in time I wasn't ready to take chances.
I looked again at Rebecca and smiled, "You look so much like your sister."
She smiled back at me, " I know which means I must look like my mother, because everybody says Jasmine looks like her." She pulled a locket out from around her neck, and opened it staring at its contents thoughtfully before handing it to me. "Do you think we do?" she asked softly.
I stared at the woman and sighed to myself. Yes the same damn eyes. But her features were so much rougher than Jasmine and Rebecca's. I could see how she had once been a ballerina rat with her perfectly sculpted eyes and features.
It was then I saw her father and then I saw the rest of the gentle inviting features of their faces. Her father had a kind face and I could definitely see the man who would do anything to protect his family. Very much like the son who resembled him.
"You don't how lucky you are to have such a beautiful family," I muttered.
"You could be a part of it," Rebecca said an eagerness in her eyes.
But it was the silence in my heart that made me wonder if I ever could. How wonderful it would be to have a family to lean on and love. But I was too different and had too much of a past, and I would not bring more pain to them.
"I don't Rebecca, I just don't know," but as I looked at her, her features had suddenly become fearful. I turned to face what she was looking at and ended staring down the barrel of a gun carried by Paul. He pointed it lower before cocking it and saying.
"I'm sorry," he muttered. Then he pulled the trigger. I raced forward and the last I heard was the sound of Rebecca's scream.
(Jasmine)
I jumped at the sound of the gunshot, "Dear god what was that," I muttered getting up and rushing to the door. It was then I heard the high pitched scream. "Rebecca," I gasped pulling the door open and raced forward my heart racing. I suddenly jammed my leg right into the corner of a nightstand, table, at this point I didn't care. I limped forward grasping for the doorknob.
"Rebecca," I cried, "Pulling open the door."
"Jasmine," she cried jumping into my arms knocking me onto the floor for lack of support. I grunted in discomfort but I held her close, my hands searching for injury.
"She's alright," his voice said deep and gasping.
"What happened?" I said holding Rebecca to my chest.
"Jasmine! Rebecca!" William called from outside.
"In here," I called.
"It was Paul," Erik gasped out, "He had a gun…"
"Are you alright?" I asked him quickly.
I heard him groan in complaint as he sat down from the sounds of it. "I'm fine," he said his voice still sounding labored.
"You don't sound alright," I said reaching forward, "Please don't tell me you were shot again."
He chuckled, "That man was drunk, he couldn't hit anything."
"You didn't answer my question are you alright," I said irritably.
He sighed leaning back, "Its just a scratch."
(Erik)
She glared at me in frustration and came forward favoring her left leg more than her right. "Your hurt," I said sitting up as I held my right arm where Paul had just managed to graze my arm after I pushed Rebecca out of the path of the bullet.
"I'm fine," she said searching my body for sign of injury. I finally took her hand in mine and moved it to my arm where the cut was. As I laid my hand on top of hers she looked up and for a moment we locked eyes. Those damn eyes. Finally she seemed to snap out of it and she turned in the direction of the doorway, "Will are you there?"
"Yeah Rebecca's fine," he answered coming into the room he took a look at me and was already heading toward one of the drawers, "Here Jas let me wrap it."
"I'm perfectly capable of wrapping it Will," she said sharply and Will's head shot up as if you she had slapped him, "I need you to stay with Rebecca okay?" she said her features softening.
"Fine," Will said handing her the bandage.
"Do you have a gun?" I asked him remembering how Paul had been willing to turn the gun on Rebecca.
William looked at me confused as did Jasmine but she only turned to Will, "In the kitchen."
Will nodded taking Rebecca with him. Then she turned to me, "You'll have to take off your shirt," she said softly. I obeyed and she gently began to wrap the wound.
"What happened?" she asked, "Why does William need to be armed."
I sighed gently gripping her hand as she finished and I pulled my shirt back on, "Because Paul didn't try to shoot me. He aimed for Rebecca."
Her brow ruffled, and her face was a combination of pain and confusion. "Why? She's a little girl...what harm is she?"
"I don't know," I muttered, "But he was definitely drunk and not thinking straight."
(Jasmine)
My body had gone entirely numb now partly because of the pain in my leg but also the fear that was now pulsing through my body. They weren't just after Erik anymore but the ones she loved as well. I closed my eyes and sighed attempting to stand but my right leg buckled beneath and my breath hissed out in pain.
Erik caught me and gently sat me on a chair in the room, "How are you injured?"
"I hit the corner of the table in the hall," I said grimacing slightly as my leg spasmed in pain.
"You shouldn't walk on it," Erik said gently lifting my dress to get a look at it, "You hit it pretty bad there's already a bruise forming."
"Well at least its not broken," I said softly as he pulled my dress back down. His hand still gripped mine though as he sat down beside me. I knew that this was the time to say something to him but the words escaped me. But then he did something I had never imagined he would do.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I know you weren't on morphine. Its just that you were presenting signs and I should have figured the pain you were feeling was yet again at the loss of someone you loved."
I smiled and then I thought how did he know what the signs were? And then it hit me. Had he been addicted to morphine as well? But I figured this was not the time to ask or inquire about anything.
"Apology accepted, "I said smiling, "And I apologize for going crazy on you. It was a very bad day."
(Erik)
I smiled at her comment and held her close to me. Paul was gone for now and I don't think he will be coming back for awhile. "Don't worry Jasmine I'm going to make sure nothing more happens to this family. As soon as you are settled I'm going to go out and look for Paul before he comes back."
She then turned to me her eyes suddenly very serious, "Promise me you won't kill him Erik." It was then I realized this was my test. Could I really put my past behind me and do the right thing for the woman I had come to love or would my need for self vengeance get in the way. But then there was something else in her eyes and then I realized it was her own need for vengeance. She didn't want me to kill him so she could do it herself.
"Just as long as you promise not to," I said just as seriously. She seemed to be taken aback by the question but then realization seemed to flash in her eyes.
"Alright I promise," she said reaching out her hand.
"And I promise as well," I said softly. As our hands met she leaned forward and kissed me gently. When she pulled away I smiled to myself, "You sure know how to seal a compromise."
She looked at me with a look of confidence as she stood extending her hand for me to help her, "Thats because it goes deeper than you know."
And as I helped her out of the room I walked thinking about what she had just said. As we got to her room and she sat down on the bed I leaned forward and kissed her gently but catching her off guard as well. "But I do know," I said softly, "You should rest and heal, let me go get Rebecca and William and then I'm going to find Paul."
She gently nodded her head as she lay down on the bed. It was then I got up and heading toward the window I made sure it was closed securely. I then went to the door and locked it behind me. I headed downstairs but as I did I noticed how quiet it had suddenly become. As I desperately searched the house I suddenly realized that Rebecca and William were nowhere to be found.
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